John Herbert Chapman Astronomy, Astrophysics and Space Science

Builder of the Canadian space program

The Story

From 1949 to 1968 Chapman was scientist, superintendent and deputy chief superintendent in the Defense Research Telecommunications Establishment in Ottawa and then assistant deputy minister for research in the federal Department of Communications. From 1958 to 1971 Chapman played a key role in initiating and directing the successful Alouette/IS scientific Earth satellite program. In 1966 he was appointed chairman of a government study group to examine the upper atmosphere and space programs in Canada. The resulting report was a landmark contribution to space policies and plans in Canada and led to the redirection of Canada’s space program from scientific to applications satellites. Chapman was also the prime mover behind Canada’s co-operative program with NASA and the European Space Agency to design, build and demonstrate the Hermes Communications Technology Satellite which would provide Canadians in remote areas with direct-to-home television by satellite.

In 1996, the headquarters of the Canadian Space Agency was renamed the John H. Chapman Space Centre to commemorate Dr. Chapman's accomplishments in the space industry.

Sources: Canadian Space Agency; Excerpt, Proceedings Royal Society of Canada; Canadian Encyclopedia, 2000 ed.; Photo: Royal Society of Canada.

Career ideas:

research scientist, physics

research scientist, electronics

research scientist, communications

research scientist, aerospace

research scientist, remote sensing

nuclear physicist

optics physicist

plasma physicist

solid state physicist

astrophysicist

cosmologist

experimental physicist

The Person

Birthdate

August 28, 1921

Birthplace

London, Ontario

Date of Death

September 28, 1979

Place of Death

Vancouver, BC

Family Members

Father: Lt. Col. Lloyd P. Chapman

Mother: Kathleen Saunders Chapman

Wife: Marian (Holmes) Chapman

Title

Physicist; Space scientist; Administrator

Status

Deceased

Degrees

MSc McGill University

PhD McGill University

Awards

McCurdy award (Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute), 1967

Charles Chree Medal and Prize, 1967

Dellinger Gold Medal (International Union of Radio Scientists), 1966

Engineering Medal (Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario), 1966